My living room is about 15' x 15' with a ceiling that is open for the second floor. There are hardwood floors everywhere but I might be putting down a rug.

I need a receiver, and speakers for a 3.1 setup with a budget of around $1500-2k. Spending less is better obviously. I honestly don't know where to start since this is my first time buying this kind of equipment.

I think you will need a good subwoofer, its sounds like your living room has considerable spatial volume. The problem with bass is it has to pressurize the whole open area if you are to get a good response throughout, especially if your listening position is in the middle of the room rather than against the walls. It you are seated next to the wall, you won't need a monster subwoofer (although its a lot of fun to have one anyway).

i got the Infnity Primus 363s at Fry's for $117 each. I've read around these forums they can be as low as $99 each. Many times I will grab for the remote to try to reduce the sub level, but it's not even on! i like them alot.

The C351 center is on sale at amazon.com right now for $199, but on backorder.

Sometimes our circuits get shorted by external interference,Signals get crossed and the balance distorted by internal incoherence.

+1 pretty solid choices for the money or can save a few bucks on a single sub svs-pb12-nsd $769
if you dont care for the white a360's(imo look good with black grills)
take a look at the ascend acoustic cmt340se's and matching center $904
the denon avr 1912 $350
svs pb12-nsd $769